“Au Fil de l’Or”: from the Orient to the Land of the Rising Sun

From February 11 to July 6, 2025, the Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac hosts “Au Fil de l’Or”, an exceptional exhibition retracing the fascinating history of golden textiles, from the Maghreb to Japan.

Gold has always been a symbol of power, wealth and refinement. For millennia, this precious element has been woven into the most sumptuous fabrics around the world. The “Au Fil de l’Or” exhibition takes visitors on an unprecedented journey through time and continents, exploring the techniques and traditions that gave rise to these exceptional textiles.

A journey through civilizations

As early as the 5th millennium BC, gold was used to embellish textiles for the elite. The exhibition highlights the central role played by this art form in various civilizations:

• Gold-embroidered caftans from the Maghreb and the Orient, witnesses to the splendor of royal courts.
• Precious dresses from the Arab world, influenced by the Ottoman Empire.
• Southeast Asian saris and textiles, where gold blends into the drape of traditional garments.
• Japanese kimonos, masterpieces of sophistication, adorned with gold leaf.

This visual and sensory journey reveals how artisans and weavers incorporated gold into their creations, whether through embroidery, weaving or the application of gold leaf to fabrics.

A collaboration with designer Guo Pei

The exhibition also features the exceptional participation of Guo Pei, the world-renowned Chinese fashion designer. Five of her never-before-seen pieces, as well as nine costumes from her collections, are displayed in dialogue with the historic textiles on show, offering an encounter between tradition and contemporary haute couture.

An immersive, educational tour

The Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac has designed a captivating thematic tour, divided into several historical and cultural sections. Immersive “bubbles” also allow visitors to explore three materials with a golden sheen, even though they are not gold: marine silk from the byssus of the Pinna nobilis; golden silk from the nephiles of Madagascar; and golden silk from Cambodia.

The exhibition concludes with an immersion in French gold embroidery know-how, featuring the famous Maison Lesage, which has collaborated with the greatest haute couture houses for a century.

Practical information

Quai Branly Museum – Jacques Chirac
Dates : February 11 to July 6, 2025
📍 Address: 37 quai Branly, 75007 Paris
Opening hours : Every day except Monday, 10:30 am to 7 pm (Thursdays until 10 pm)

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